“Isn’t his place tiny?”
“It is,” I sighed. “And he moved in with Cory a few months ago too.”
“Ah,” Leah said. “Is she ok with you staying there?”
“I’m not sure,” I admitted. “She was very sweet and gracious when I first arrived, but that may have been for Seth’s benefit. She can be a little passive aggressive so staying there long term is not an option either. I’m going to have to find a decent job soon so that I can afford rent for an apartment of my own.”
“You’ll need a roommate,” Zoey pointed out.
“I know,” I nodded. “I wouldn’t be able to afford an apartment without one. I spent the whole morning surfing the net trying to find decent options that aren’t too far from campus.”
“No luck?”
“Not so far,” I said, in frustration.
“Are you looking for a job?”
“Started the search for that too,” I nodded.
I had worked all through my first three years at Columbia, and I had actually managed to save a little, and because of that, I had decided to focus exclusively on my music for my final year so that I could take part in a few more concerts and really immerse myself in the music world. It had been a luxury even then, but it had been something of a gift to myself. Now it was downright unrealistic.
“What about trying to get one of your old jobs back?” Leah suggested. “You had a good relationship with your last boss, didn’t you?”
“Tony,” I nodded. “He ran a pizza parlor just outside campus. I went in yesterday after my lectures, but he’s not hiring anymore. He told me he’d keep me in mind if anything open
ed up but I’m not optimistic. I’ve applied for a couple more jobs in and around the campus… so hopefully I’ll get one by the end of the week.”
“Of course you will,” Leah nodded. “With that face of yours, you’re bound to get a job.”
I frowned. “That’s not exactly why I want to be hired.”
“Who cares why you’re hired?” Leah asked. “As long as you are.”
“Fair point,” I sighed. “I’m far past the point of desperation.”
“Hang in there, kid… you’re just building character.”
I smirked. “Is that something your dad told you growing up?”
“Of course it is,” Leah nodded. “That was his party line every time I was going through something. It used to piss me off, and now I find myself repeating it to myself whenever things don’t go my way.”
I laughed. “How are you?” I asked. “I miss you so much.”
“Oh, dude, you have no idea how much I miss you,” Leah replied. “I have a good group of friends here but… it’s not the same.”
“At least you have a group of friends… I don’t even have that to distract myself.”
“That’s because you’re so damn committed to your music that you forget to get out there and have fun.”
I wanted to argue with her, but I knew Leah was right to an extent. “You know I hate parties,” I said.
“Oh, boy, do I know,” Leah nodded. “I used to have to drag you to any party we had in high school. Do you remember Ashley Benson’s party?”
“Of course I remember it,” I nodded. “I was in love with her brother—”
“Which was the only reason I was able to convince you to come with me,” Leah nodded. “You spent the whole night hiding in a corner, and when Ashley’s brother finally made an appearance, you walked the other way.”
“I was cripplingly shy back then.”